Bromo (2) : The Tenggerese

Bromo is located in The Bromo – Tengger – Semeru National Park, and the people who living in this area is called by “Tenggerese”

Having found a “Tengger” charter in 851 Saka (Hindusm dated, similar with 929 years) and “Penanjakan” charter in 1324 Saka (1402 years) is known that a “Wandalit” village in the Tengger mountainious, there is “Hulun Hyang” (God men = people who have strong religion), they are called by “Hila – Hila” (holy). Therefore, Tengger is free from Majapahit tax donation. This area is a “special place”

The Tenggerese society is obeclient to God, have history relation with Majapahit. A king gives special attention to that people. So, it’s difference from Hindu follower in Tengger and in Bali

Having strong confident to defend the culture for many centuries without influencing the era changing makes the scientist specially anthropologist from Indonesia or other countries interested in researching it. So, there many version of writing about The Tenggerese. They can be in story, tale, serat and kidung, legend and also scientific writing. The western scientist that ever writes about it, is Nancy J Smith and Robert W Hefner. Their writing is based on their own version

According to etimology “Tengger” means stand (without moving) and philosophically “Tengger” means “tengering budi luhur” (this is Javanesse language, meant “signing a good manner”). It can be proved by Tengger society that they live full of peacefull, safe, there is no thief or criminal. In myth, Tenggerese is known coming from the word Teng (the last of Rara Anteng’s name) and Ger (the last part of Jaka Seger’s name). They are a couple married who are the beginning of Tengger society.

Prabu Brawijaya (Brawijaya King), the last king of Majapahit kingdom has a princess from the wife, she was Queen Padmi. Her name is Rara Anteng. She is educated by Resi Ki Dadap Putih (teacher’s name) who living in Tengger Mountanious (still great jungle). Oneday, when Jaka Seger comes to this place, he met Rara Anteng . Falling in love and marrying. Ki Dadap Putih allows them to be a husband and wife.

For many years, they haven’t children. Then, Jaka Seger and Rara Anteng pray in “Watu Kuta” (a sacred place) faced to Bromo mountain. They hope that God will accept their want. Afterwards, they have many children, but one of them must be sacrified for Bromo mountain.
The first child’s name is “Tumenggung Klewung”. Jaka Seger and Rara Anteng had 25 children and the last child’s name is “Raden Kusuma”. They are happy as a family, having a lot of children, but also worry if they remember about their promise to Bromo mountain, then they didn’t allowed their children to come or close to Bromo mountain. Specially for their mother, Rara Anteng, because she loved their so much, and in other side that she must keep her promise to God (in Hindusm, God is called by “Sang Hyang Agung”). Finally, they think that they have to sacrifice their son. They hide their children in Penanjakan mountain. But it wasn’t making them safe. The lava brings their son, Raden Kusuma to Bromo mountain. Raden Kusuma disappears mysteriously. Then, the situation is back normally. There’s a sound said that their son disappears because of rheir promise. They must keep their promise. And they must give agriculture products at the full moon of 14th in Kasada. It is for Bromo mountain

And then, every this month people always do what Roro Anteng and Jaka Seger done. This custome is called by “Yadnya Kasada”

The children’s name of Baginda Purbowaseno Mangkurat (“King Purbowaseno Mangkurat”) in Tengger’s children always concern with the holy places. He has 25 children. The holy places in Bromo are Ringgit mountain (first son, Tumenggung Klewung), Penanjakan mountain (the sixteenth son, Raden Mas Sigit), Semeru mountain (the twenty fourth son, Demang Diningrat) and the last is Bromo mountain (the last son, Raden Kusuma)

Hindu in Tengger and Bali are different. In Tengger, there is no “Kasta” (people living grade), people believe that Sang Hyang Maha Agung (God) is a leader in the universe. They believe something hidden and nature phenomenas such as sun eclipse, moon eclipse and earthquake. They still believe dynamism, fithesisme. They also believe “Bhatara – bhatara”. Batara Krisna protects the people, Bhatara Iswara has symbol in white, keeping the east direction. Brahma’s symbol is red to keep the west, Batara Wisnu’s symbol is black to keep the north. Batara Guru’s symbol is five coloursto keep in the middle. Tenggerese pray in the morning, afternoon and evening by read the sacred book “The Puja Tri Sandhya”. A month, twice in fullmoon and panglong 15th, they pray in Sanggar Pamujan. After the government confirms that Tenggerese is Hindu Dharma, is built the places for praying. Their attitude based on “Karma Phala”. Karma Phala means the result of the action.

They believe that good action (“cubhakarma”) will get a good result and bad action (acubhakarma) will get a bad result. Karma Phala become a motivation to do a good action. They are honest, simple and respective. They never lock their door in the evening and there is no thief there. It’s caused they believe the Karma Phala. Corn is being their food. They keep it in traditionally in the outside of the house without guard. Corn is kept in bamboo and called by “Sigiran”, put in besides of house.

The groups of Tengger society is lead by a medicine man, called by “Dukun”. He has duty and responsibility in leading ceremony and praying. He is helped by others, they are :
1. Wong Sepuh (old man), his duty is to help the medicine man to prepare “Sesaji” (present) in the dead ceremony
2. Legen, his duty is to help the medicine man to prepare the equipment and “Sesaji” (present) in wedding party / ceremony
3. Dukun Sunat, his duty is to circumcise the son (nearly adult). But it is different from moslem, circumcising in Tengger just cut a little
4. Dukun Bayi (nurse), his / her duty is to help a mother who will get birth

Medicine man here is very important in Tengger, so every village has medicine man. He is choosen by people with the conditions :
1. Married man
2. The son of medicine man
3. Mastering the charms
To exam the medicine man to be is done in Poten, the place where is Yadnya ceremony is done and do when Kasada ceremony